Not about me… seriously
As I continue to read (slowly) Dave Black’s book The Jesus Paradigm, I’m continually faced with a major problem (see my post “Summer Reading” for a few excerpts). My problem does not stem from disagreeing with the author, but from recognizing my own hypocrisy.
When reading this little book, I usually run into my own hypocrisy in simple statements like “X is not as much a dogma to be believed but a lifestyle to be practiced” (i.e. pg. 119).
And, thus I’m faced with the fact that I “believe” alot of things, but these “beliefs” are not usually demonstrated in my lifestyle. Or, if these “beliefs” are demonstrated in my life, they are demonstrated incompletely and inconsistently. Simply, I am not dying to myself and allowing the risen Christ to live through me. Instead, I am still living too much of my life my way and under my control.
Think about something simple and yet pervasive like loving others. I claim to love others, but I spend most of my time loving myself. It’s true. Why? Because I’m still choosing when, where, how, and why to love. I’m still in control. I’m not dead yet.
You see… my life… it’s not about me… seriously. I am dead, but I continue to live this dead life. “Loving others” and “dying to myself” and “considering others as more important” etc… are dogmas that I believe, but they are not lifestyles that I practice. If anything, they are hobbies.
I’m tired of living my own life and treating Jesus as a hobby.
Walking Together
Last summer, when my wife Margaret and I were walking together in the mornings, I wrote a post called “Walking Together“. I learned alot about discipleship and living with other believers as Margaret and I learned to physically walk together. We should probably start walking together in the mornings again. Anway, I hope you enjoy this post.
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Until moving to North Carolina to attend seminary, I’ve lived a fairly active life. Because of this, I haven’t needed to set aside time to exercise. However, because of seminary, my lifestyle has become much more sedentary, and as a result I have become less healthy and I’ve gained too much weight.
I decided that since I was not taking classes this summer I would start exercising. Margaret and I started walking in the evenings. But, because there was usually something going on in the evenings, and because it was very hot, we found that we walked much less often than we needed to. So, I started walking early in the mornings. After a few days, Margaret started walking in the mornings with me.
Before Margaret started walking with me – and occasionally now when she has something else to do in the mornings – I find that I can walk by myself at a faster pace, for longer distances, and for longer periods of time. When we walk together, we walk at a slower pace, for shorter distances, and for less time.
It would appear that it would be better for me to walk by myself. And, if I were only concerned with my physical health, it might be better for me to walk by myself. I would get healthier faster by walking every day by myself.
However, life is not just about my health. When Margaret and I walk together, we also talk to one another, and we encourage one another as we walk. In fact, Margaret has told me that she probably would not continue walking if she had to walk alone. She wouldn’t be motivated to walk by herself.
So, while I may be more healthy by walking alone, our family is healthier by us walking together. I suppose, if I were only concerned with my own physical health, I would walk alone anyway. But, I’m also concerned about Margaret’s health, and I’m concerned about our relationship. These concerns override the personal advantage of walking alone. By the way, I also find that I am getting healthier in process.
I suppose there is some spiritual point to my learning this and sharing this with my readers. There’s probably some truth about community and spiritual gifts and mutual edification and growing in maturity together.
Unfortunately, I don’t have to time to dig into those spiritual truths. Its time for me to attend a Bible study. Although, I may not be attending this Bible study for very much longer. The other people who attend this Bible study are not as spiritually mature as me, and they are not moving along as fast as I would like to move along. I think a Bible study with a different format would be better for my own spiritual growth. I’ve been thinking of looking for another Bible study so that these less mature people don’t slow down my own growth.
More about the hypothetical situation
My post “Hypothetical Situation… what do you think?” from Tuesday was based on a true story. Here is the full report as I received it:
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea… (Acts 17:1-10 ESV)
There were a few details that I left out of my “hypothetical situation”. 1) The “religoius people” were Jews. 2) Paul and Silas did not have New Testament Scriptures to leave with the new believers. 3) The new believers were already facing persecution before Paul and Silas left.
Paul and Silas probably visited Thessalonika around 49-50 AD. We don’t know specifically what happened to the group of believers in Thessalonika after Paul and Silas left. But, we do know that the church – and Paul did consider them a church – continued to grow in both numbers and maturity. Notice what Paul says in his letter to this church, which he probably wrote only a year or two after visiting the city for the first time:
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. (1 Thessalonians 1:4-8 ESV)
So, I’ll answer my own questions concerning my “hypothetical situation” now:
1) What things do you think are most important that you would have taught them over the last few weeks? According to Acts, the most important information that Paul communicated to the Jews was the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that Jesus is the Messiah. For the new believers – those to whom the gospel and the Holy Spirit had come – the most important thing for Paul was that they imitated his way of life.
For myself, I probably would not trust the Spirit as much as Paul did. I would think that I would have to present a systematic set of teachings and made sure they understood and agreed with everything.
2) What concerns would you have about this group of disciples? It seems that Paul’s main concern was that they would remain faithful in spite of persecution.
My concerns would be that they would not do or believe the things that I do or believe.
3) Would you consider this group a church? Why or why not? Paul did consider them a church because the Holy Spirit had come to them.
I would consider them a church, because they had received the Holy Spirit.
4) Do you think you left them with everything they need after only a few weeks? Paul thought that they had everything they needed.
I’m learning that they had everything they needed.
(Note: “Everything they needed” does not mean that these believers were completely mature. But, then, no believer or group of believers is completely mature. Thus, we continually need the presence of the Spirit and the help from other believers.)
5) If so, how could this be enough? Paul was satisfied that if they had the Holy Spirit, then he would provide everything they needed. This is a constant and consistent theme with Paul.
See my answer above.
6) If not, what is missing? Nothing is missing.
Next week, I will publish one more post concerning this “hypothetical situation”. In that post, I will discuss the point of these posts.
Hypothetical Situation… what do you think?
Suppose that you and some friends were traveling through a foreign city. While you were there, you met a group a people who invited you to a religious ceremony. You go with them.
At this ceremony, you realize that these people believe in God, but they do not know about Jesus Christ. At the end of the ceremony, the leader gives anyone a chance to talk. You find the courage to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the people gathered.
Some of the people are very interested. As you leave the ceremony, they follow you and ask you more about Jesus. In fact, they encourage you to stay with them for the next several days and continuously ask you about Jesus, your beliefs, your lifestyle, etc. Many people confess their desire to follow Jesus.
The people are amazed at the way you interact with your friends, with them, and with the other people in the city. They ask you about your lifestyle, and you explain that the gospel not simply a message to be believed, but it is a life to be lived.
The religious leaders invite you back to their next ceremony. Once again you are given the opportunity to speak, but this time the leaders are ready with some questions and concerns. You explain as well as you can, and after the ceremony a few others ask if they can learn more as well. Again, many confess their desire to follow Jesus.
Others who are not religious begin to show interest, and some of them confess their desire to follow Jesus. It seems like everywhere you go in the city, people are talking about your group and about Jesus.
By the next week, when you have once again been invited to the religious ceremony, the atmosphere has changed. The religious leaders are angry and begin to threaten you and those who have began to follow Christ because of you. You are not given the chance to defend yourself or the others at this meeting, and the new believers become concerned.
That night, after the ceremony, the new believers convince you that it would be best for you and for them if you and your friends left that night. You agree, so you pack up your belongings and drive away.
As you are driving away, and as you think about what had happened over the last few weeks, you begin to think about that little band of disciples back in the city.
So… here are my questions for you, my readers: 1) What things do you think are most important that you would have taught them over the last few weeks? 2) What concerns would you have about this group of disciples? 3) Would you consider this group a church? Why or why not? 4) Do you think you left them with everything they need after only a few weeks? 5) If so, how could this be enough? 6) If not, what is missing?
(By the way, this “hypothetical situation” is based on a true story.)
Summer reading
As I mentioned a few days ago in my post “Community and Multiplication“, I’ve been reading The Rabbit and the Elephant: Why Small is the New Big for Today’s Church by Tony and Felicity Dale and George Barna. I finished reading that book, and I’m working on the review now.
All I can say for now is that this book has helped me think about the church in new ways… ways that I see modeled in Scripture. I’m still processing alot of it though.
A few days ago, another book arrived. I’ve been waiting anxiously for this book as well. What book? The Jesus Paradigm by my PhD mentor David Alan Black. I’ve read a couple of chapters, but I thought I would tease you with a few quotes.
The “Good News” of the Gospel is precisely that the saving work of Christ provides not only the forgiving and saving grace of God but also God’s transforming and sanctifying grace that is mediated through God’s Word and Spirit. Jesus brought into existence a new reality in which the actual Person of Christ becomes as important as established theological positions about Christ. (11-12)
Are there any signs that all of our theologizing makes any difference in our lives?… The issue is best posed as follows: Is the evangelical church in America prepared to deal with biblical truth, not just on the intellectual level, but on the level of daily living? I sometimes think that our courses in theology and church history and Greek and Hebrew do more to distract us than to deepen our sense of mission. (24) (Remember that David Alan Black is a Greek professor.)
Yet if I, as a Christian, do not practice what I preach, if I continue to major in the minors, if “poor in spirit” remains but a meaningless platitude in my own life, then I am merely an admirer of Jesus and not a true follower. (29)
Yeah, this is a hard-hitting book. What is his purpose in writing? To help people move from cultural churchianity into being a radical follower of Jesus Christ.
Brother killing brother
Two years ago, after a family vacation to Pennsylvania which included a trip to Gettysburg, I wrote a post called “Brother killing brother“. While this certainly doesn’t apply to everyone – does anything apply to everyone? – I’ve noticed far too many believers who seem to pride themselves over ripping someone apart with their words. I think we need to understand the damage this type of attack does to both our spiritual state, our brother’s spiritual state, and our witness.
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Wednesday, my family had the opportunity to tour Gettysburg, PA and many of the sites connected to the Civil War battle that happened there almost 150 year ago. If you have never been to Gettysburg, then you should know that there are thousands of monuments scattered around this city. Each monument – set up by various states – commemorates the soldiers that fought during this three day long battle. During those three days – the bloodiest days in U.S. history (?) – 50,000 Americans lost their life, with friends fighting friends, brothers killing brothers.
I grew up in the southern part of the United States – in fact, I have always lived in the South. But, regardless, I recognize that the Southern States (the Confederate States) were wrong in their reaction against the United States government. That said, I also believe the Federal government was wrong in its reaction against the secession of the Confederate States.
Interestingly, there were godly men on both sides of this conflict. Both Southerners and Northerners prayed to God, asking Him to aid them in this dispute. Both groups stated that God was on their side. In reality, I do not think God was on either side. Why? Because I do not think God called brother to kill brother because of political differences.
Not much has changed… especially when it comes to the church. Oh, certainly, we do not fight with rifles, bayonets, and canons. But, how many brothers attack brothers with words? How many sisters destroy sisters through innuendo and gossip? And why? Because we disagree on certain things – not the most important things – not gospel things – but, we definitely disagree about “church” things.
And, because we sing different songs, or meet on different days, or disagree over leadership, or interpret some parts of Scripture differently we kill each other’s reputations – we destroy each other’s witness – we blast each other’s good deeds – we knife each other in the back. Perhaps, it would be better if we would be armed with rifles and bayonets, instead of arming ourselves with sickles as if we can choose who are wheat and who are weeds. Perhaps, it would be better if we would aim canons at one another, instead of aiming words of hate and distrust. At least, if we used rifles or canons, we would be honest about our hate and distrust of one another. At least, then, we would have to admit that we are not united.
I think the American Civil Was was a travesty. I do not think either side was right in going to war against other states. I do not think either side won.
However, the way that Christians attack each other is an even greater travesty and tragedy. The next time you level an attack on another brother or sister in Christ, remember: God is not on your side, regardless of how right you think you are.
Grace to live
I wrote a post called “Grace to live” about two years ago when I was studying Paul’s personal letters – 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. I often need to be reminded that God’s grace is not only for salvation in the end times, but for life today.
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I often think of grace in terms of salvation. Paul says that we are saved by grace (Eph 2:8), justified by grace (Rom 3:24), chosen by grace (Rom 11:5), gifted by grace (Rom 12:6; Eph 4:7), redeemed and forgiven by grace (Eph 1:7), among many other benefits that we receive because of the grace of God. I realized recently, though, that I’ve often seen the benefits of grace as being future benefits. But, I had the opportunity to teach from Titus 2 a few weeks ago, and at the end of that chapter, Paul says that grace teaches us to live now…
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14 NKJV)
If we remove the adjectives and prepositional phrases in order to get to the basic structure of the sentence, we get the following:
Grace has appeared teaching us [in order] that we should live.
Besides describing grace as that which brings salvation to all men, in this sentence Paul is also telling us that grace teaches us how to live now (“in the present age”). I think this is very important. We are not saved by grace so that we can then live by the law. We are saved by grace so that same grace can teach us how to live. We are not saved by grace so that we can live with God in the future. We are saved by grace so that same grace can teach us how to live with God now.
What does this passage tell us about living by grace? First, the grace that teaches us how to live, is the grace from God that saves. There is no difference between saving grace and living grace. Now, this may sound simplistic, but the implications are huge. If God has given you the grace to be saved, then he has also given you the grace to live.
Next, grace teaches us that we should live a certain type of life – specifically, a life that demonstrates sobriety (self-control), righteousness (uprightness, justness), and godliness (piety). And, this is not a life to be lived for some future, eschatological existence. Instead, the life that grace teaches us how to live is to be lived now, while we are on this earth. If we expect God’s grace to be effective in salvation, we should also expect God’s grace to be effective in teaching us how to live today. This kind of life is no more theoretical or idealistic than is our salvation. If salvation is real, then our self-controlled, righteous, godly life can be real as well.
Grace also teaches us that we must deny certain things as we live. Primarily, we should deny anything that opposes God (ungodliness) and the desires that this world offers (worldly lusts). Again, these are not things that we have to find and remove for ourselves. Because of his grace, we can trust God to point out where we are ungodly and where we are desiring the things of the world. As we learn to walk in the grace of God (the life that grace is teaching us how to live), we will also learn how to deny those things (like ungodliness and worldly desires) that are contrary to God and his grace.
Finally, grace teaches us that in order to live as we should today, then we should live expecting the return of Jesus. Note that every eschatological vision in the New Testament comes with the same purpose: be prepared for Jesus to return at any moment. Or, as Jesus himself said, “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming”. (Matthew 24:42 NKJV) This is not a time for believers to fear, but it is a time for which believers want to be prepared (grace teaches this!). The coming of our Lord is a blessed and glorious time for believers. Grace teaches us how to live in such a way that we are prepared for his return.
So, to repeat something that I said earlier: God does not save us by grace so that we must then live according to the law. God saves us by his grace so that we can then live according to his grace. If we trust God for salvation, let’s also trust him to teach us how to live. If someone is not living a godly life, don’t teach them to change their behavior. Instead, point them to God and teach them how to live in his grace. If someone is not demonstrating righteousness and justice toward others, don’t try to change them by forcing them to serve others. Instead, point them to God and teach them how to live in his grace.
We trust God and his grace for salvation. Let’s also trust God and his grace to teach us how to live today. Don’t trust rules, trust grace.
Alot of talk about discipleship
Discipleship is about following. A disciple is someone who follows, and making disciples means helping someone follow. Following is about doing the same things that someone else does.
Thus, a disciple of Jesus is someone who follows Jesus. Making disciples of Jesus means helping someone follow Jesus. Following Jesus is about doing the same things that Jesus does.
In my time at seminary, I have heard alot about discipleship. We have been told that our seminary is concerning with the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), in which Jesus tells his followers (disciples) to make disciples. Many professors have exhorted us in class to “be about the Great Commission” and to “make disciples”.
I remember one class in particular. The class was called “Pastoral Ministry”. The class was designed to help vocational pastors carry out their responsibilities. We talked about how to conduct a marriage ceremony, how to baptize, how to serve the Lord’s Supper, how to conduct a business meeting and a deacons’ meeting.
On the last day of the class, the professor asked, “What is your most important responsibility as a pastor?” The students gave many different answers. Finally, the professor said, “Your most important responsibility as a pastor – and as a Christian – is to make disciples.”
The professor then moved on to another topic. For the next several minutes, I contemplated what the professor said. Eventually, the professor asked if there were any questions. I raised my hand.
“You said earlier that our most important responsibility is to make disciples. Since I’ve been in seminary, I’ve heard that we should be making disciples. We’ve been told to carry out the Great Commission, which is to make disciples. But, what do you mean by ‘make disciples’? Do you mean that we should lead ‘discipleship classes’? Do you mean that we should go on mission trips around the world? Do you mean that we should have prayer meetings? What do you mean when you say ‘make disciples’?”
The professor stopped for a moment. Then, he gave the best advice that I’ve heard in a seminary classroom.
He said, “All of those things can be included in discipleship, but none of those things are discipleship. When I say that we should ‘make disciples’, I mean that we should spend time with other brothers and sisters in Christ and help them do the things that Jesus did. We help them serve others and teach others. While classes can be part of this, primarily discipleship happen when we live our lives among one another. It happens in our homes and at restaurants, in parks and stores. We disciples when we drive somewhere together, work together, eat together, anytime we spend time together. And, in order to make disciples, we must spend alot of time with the people that we discipling – and most of the time should be outside of the classroom.”
I asked him, sincerely, “If discipleship is so important, then why is this the first time I’ve heard anything like this from someone at the seminary?” Many of the students around me nodded in agreement. (I thought, but didn’t ask, “And, if this type of discipleship is our most important responsibility, why was it an after-thought – an answer to a question – in this class?”)
I’ve noticed that it is much, much easier to talk about discipleship than to actually do it. It is much easier to prepare a lecture about discipleship than to spend time with someone else. It is easier to give a sermon series on discipleship than to help someone serve others. It is much easier to write a book about discipleship than to invite someone into our lives.
There is alot of talk about discipleship and the importance of discipleship.
stories: Reconciliation and evangelism
This post is part of my “stories” series. In this series, I share stories of how people live their lives in response to the gospel and as a demonstration of God’s love in order to teach us and to provide an example to provoke us to love and good works. (See “stories: A New Series” for more information about this series.)
Guy from “The M Blog” sent me this story. (He has many, many more stories on his blog.)
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For months the church that meets in the house of Manuel had traveled every weekend to the small rural community of Churute about 40-minutes outside of Guayaquil. Their purpose? To plant a church in this roadside town where Manuel owns a piece of property.
After fruitless weeks of door-to-door evangelism and doing everything they had been taught by us missionaries, Manuel was about ready to give up.
But then God stepped in to the situation.
Manuel owns a nice piece of land in Churute. By the carelessness of a neighbor, “Don Carlos”, Manuel’s land was set on fire. Everything was burned to the ground…including his valued Mango trees. The whole community was prepared for a tense confrontation, and possibly violence due to the indifference Don Carlos had showed towards Manuel’s property and his total economic loss.
Manuel was of course quite distraught by what had taken place and was unsure of how to proceed. Get the police involved? Sue the neighbor? Demand restitution? Confront the callous neighbor and give him a good tongue lashing? Before doing anything, Manuel decided to pray for a week seeking God’s mind on how he should proceed.
Once the Lord had given him the answer and peace of mind, Manuel made a trip to Churute. Word quickly spread in the community that the “fireworks were about to begin.”
Upon arrival, Manuel announced that he wanted to see Don Carlos. Neighbors stirred, whispers ensued, and someone ran to get the man who had burned Manuel’s field to ashes.
Don Carlos arrived expecting a confrontation. Before Manuel could say a word, Don Carlos began blurting out excuses and defending himself about what had happened. Manuel lowered his head, listened a while, then chuckled a bit and interrupted him in mid-sentence… “Oh that, don’t worry about it…I realize it was an accident…could have happened to anybody…just be a little more careful next time… What I came to talk to you about today was that we were wanting to enlist your help in trying to get the whole community together to see a film on the life of Christ. We were hoping you might help us with the refreshments. Could you provide some bread and maybe something to drink for the kids so that it might be a good time for all?”
To say the least, Don Carlos was stunned and at a loss for words. All he managed was, “Uhh, of course…count on my help…when did you want to show the picture?”
A week later, Manuel came back to Churute for the planned evening event. Word had spread about what had happened between Manuel and Don Carlos. The entire community turned out to watch the film on the life of Christ. After the movie, Manuel gave a short evangelistic message and an invitation for people to give their hearts to Jesus. EVERY PERSON PRESENT stood to their feet, raising their hands towards heaven, praying aloud–including Don Carlos!!!
The long prayed-for church was born that evening in Churute. That evening the Light of the World came to Churute. Jesus Christ was glorified as His church was planted in this tiny roadside community. A blip on the map overlooked by the world, but not forgotten by God.
UPDATE: What has happened since then? There are now THREE other churches besides the one in Churute. Manuel is moving forward with his plans to have a church in all the neighboring towns! The last time I saw Don Carlos he was assisting Manuel in a marriage ceremony of two new believers who had been living together out of wedlock. Don Carlos role was to read the assigned Scriptures aloud to the assembled wedding party!
FOR PHOTOS OF MANUEL AND OTHERS MENTIONED ABOVE CHECK OUT THE ORIGINAL HERE.
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If you would like for me to include your story in this series, please send me an email at aknox [at] sebts [dot] edu.
Good teaching
Last Sunday, my friend Jonathan taught from Matthew 18:20-35 which includes the parable of the unforgiving servant. Several other people also read Scripture and discussed the issue of forgiveness. Was this “good teaching”? Was it “sound doctrine”?
I’ll allow my friend Jason to respond in a post he wrote for our church website:
Yesterday in service, a brother taught out from Matthew 18:21-35, and it dealt with forgiveness; learning to forgive others knowing the forgiveness that we have received from our wonderful Father. Well…it was a very sobering message and the Lord was really breaking me over some things yesterday. One of the things He reminded me of is how subtle bitterness can be in our lives. There has been some tension between myself and another sister and I tried to make it right last week, so I made a call but couldn’t get a hold of this sister. Well I became very prideful thinking that I did my part, which my Father really rebuked me about yesterday. He showed me that I was holding some bitterness towards this person, which I was able to repent of. I decided to give this person a call again to try and make things right, this time the way that the Lord calls us to and not in my own pride. I still wasn’t able to talk much with this sister as of yesterday, but I am hopeful to be able to make things right. I am praying that the Lord would work continue to teach me how to forgive others and continually remind of the great debt that I’ve been forgiven that I might come to know Him more.
So, God used Jonathan’s words and the words of other brothers and sisters to convict Jason of a broken relationship with a sister. In response, Jason began contacting this sister in order to start reconciling that relationship. Sounds like “good teaching” to me.